Scan barcode
rosseroo's review against another edition
5.0
The final book in Kerr's original "Berline Noir" trilogy is set in 1947, some nine years and one World War after our last encounter with private eye Bernie Gunther. The change is dramatic, as Gunther ekes out a living after surviving the war, including a stint on the Eastern Front. The formerly middle-class Gunther lives as most Berliners do, in hard times and in constant fear of the rapacious "Ivans." In this sad time Gunther must face the passability that his wife is prostituting herself in order to put food on the table, and that his country as a whole is doing much the same. He becomes embroiled in a mystery that takes him to Vienna, a city where Cold War spying is being born. The story gets quite hard to follow, but is certainly worth it--especially if you watch the classic film noir, The Third Man, before reading this book.
amooti's review against another edition
5.0
The best of the three! Great story, great plot against the fascinating background of the aftermath of Germany losing the 2nd WW.
michaelnlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I have already read #1 and #2 from this detective series, as well as #7. I have decided it makes sense to make the (slight) effort to read these in order rather than jumping around.
It is impossible to know if there were Germans, Russians, or Americans who thought as the characters in this book (or his others) are described as doing but it doesn't seem impossible. This sort of detective fiction, with characters and a setting from a different country (or here, countries) than the author and set in the past is probably inaccurate in different ways that a native would object to, but the characters are good and the story is good. It seems Kerr goes to some trouble to base some aspect of the larger situation that the story takes place in on historical events.
The Bernie Gunther books are not police procedurals in the usual way - for one thing, usually he is acting as a detective, not part of the police, but also the characters mostly change from book to book - there isn't some continuing cast of characters to get to know (not so far, anyway). I think that makes it a little harder as a reader to get into each book, but it allows Kerr to set up widely different situations for each book. Each novel is entirely first person following around Bernie; there aren't any separate plot lines with other characters.
Book #1 the Bernie character had something of an almost snarky tone in parts but this eased up after the first book. I'm glad I gave the series a chance and have read more.
It is impossible to know if there were Germans, Russians, or Americans who thought as the characters in this book (or his others) are described as doing but it doesn't seem impossible. This sort of detective fiction, with characters and a setting from a different country (or here, countries) than the author and set in the past is probably inaccurate in different ways that a native would object to, but the characters are good and the story is good. It seems Kerr goes to some trouble to base some aspect of the larger situation that the story takes place in on historical events.
The Bernie Gunther books are not police procedurals in the usual way - for one thing, usually he is acting as a detective, not part of the police, but also the characters mostly change from book to book - there isn't some continuing cast of characters to get to know (not so far, anyway). I think that makes it a little harder as a reader to get into each book, but it allows Kerr to set up widely different situations for each book. Each novel is entirely first person following around Bernie; there aren't any separate plot lines with other characters.
Book #1 the Bernie character had something of an almost snarky tone in parts but this eased up after the first book. I'm glad I gave the series a chance and have read more.
offmessage's review against another edition
5.0
By far the best of the three. Set in the destroyed post war cities of Berlin and Vienna, the Russians and Americans are vying for control, spying on each other and using Nazi war criminals to their advantage. In the midst of it all Bernie does what he does best; tries to solve a murder and falls for the wrong dame.
Much less "noir" than the previous two, this is more political thriller. The plot genuinely fizzes and the setting is absolutely perfect.
Much less "noir" than the previous two, this is more political thriller. The plot genuinely fizzes and the setting is absolutely perfect.
More...